Stella says “I really like [Lao Sze Chuan’s] sauce. It’s not spicy and kind of sweet. The [Pei Wei chicken] is too dry. Of all the dishes, this is the one I’d pick [Lao Sze Chuan’s] to have again.” Julia says “Neither is particularly a standout, orange chicken–wise. But the [Pei Wei] chicken is very bland. [Lao Sze Chuan’s] is a little gloopy, but it had a nice orange-y flavor.”Winner Lao Sze Chuan

Stella says “[Jake Melnick’s] wings are less chewy than the others, and more moist. They have a lot of flavor.”Julia says “The [Jake Melnick’s] wings seem more heavily fried, and I like that. Stella’s right—the others are chewier; they have bigger bits of fat.”Winner Jake Melnick’s

Stella says “There’s just too much cheese on the [La Scarola] one, and it’s really salty. And it doesn’t look as nice on the plate. But it’s still really flavorful.”Julia says “Presentation-wise, [Maggiano’s] is the winner. It’s a more sophisticated-looking lasagna. And I like the layer of ricotta. But [La Scarola] is impressive, too. They’re both huge. If you ate an entire portion of either, it could kill you.”Winner After lots of back-and-forth, Stella chose Maggiano’s. For Julia, it was a draw.

Stella says “[Smoque’s] brisket is too dry for me. For the ribs, the [Famous Dave’s] ones are meatier and very tender. I’d eat more.” Julia says “[Smoque’s] ribs and brisket have a deeper smoke flavor—it depends on your preference, but that’s a positive for me. [Famous Dave’s] brisket is more juicy and tender. It tastes more like Jewish brisket.”Winner This was the surprise upset: Stella preferred Famous Dave’s brisket and ribs. Julia liked both briskets for their different preparations, but declared Smoque the winner on ribs.